Muslims in a Global Context is a semi-annual mini-course series for students, educators, and the broader community to learn from faculty experts and practitioners about issues of critical importance to the understanding of countries with significant Muslim populations. Each term the cluster of countries changes. Speakers for this session include: Dr. Juan Cole, University of Michigan (Monday, November 11), Dr. James Hoesterey, Emory University, Dr. Sidharth Chandra, Michigan State, Dr. Azlan Tajuddin, LaRoche College.

Muslims in a Global Context is a semi-annual workshop/mini-course series that brings together faculty experts and practitioners with members of the business and cultural community, teachers, and university students for one weekend each fall and spring term. The workshops consist of presentations on topics of critical importance to the understanding of countries with significant Muslim populations. Each workshop focuses on a single cluster of countries.

In the past several decades and especially since September 11, 2001, policymakers, scholars and individuals have been debating issues related to the compatibility of Islam and democracy, the growth of violent Islamist movements, and the causes of terrorism and suicide bombings. In many instances, such debates seem to boil down to a “clash of civilization.” To explore these issues we will examine a diverse body of literature drawing on political science, anthropology, economics, sociology, and history.

This course will examine armed struggle, resistance, insurgency, terrorism and actions by non-state actors in the Middle East. We will consider the politics and actions of different groups, as well as the way people live during situations of conflict involving such non-state actors. We will explore meanings of violence, the logic of armed groups, and the implications of killing in warfare. We will also analyze the role of the state vis-a-vis these actors and the part the state plays in violent confrontation.

This course will examine armed struggle, resistance, insurgency, terrorism and actions by non-state actors in the Middle East. We will consider the politics and actions of different groups, as well as the way people live during situations of conflict involving such non-state actors. We will explore meanings of violence, the logis of armed groups, and the implications of killing in warfare. We will also analyze the role of the state vis-a-vis these actors and the part the state plays in violent confrontation.

This is a one-credit Arabic Language trailer to PS 1384/ANTH 1737 that will provide an opportunity to develop vocabulary in the Anthropology and Political Science disciplines. The trailer will expand course content through articles, chapters and other media in Arabic.

This course will examine the various debates circulating in and around the Arab world related to the culture and politics of Arab societies. We will explore questions of representation in the region, whether that is Arab representations of themselves, Arab representations by the other, or minority struggles for representation. We will look at the relationship between individual, society and the state, and think critically about each of these concepts as they reproduce themselves and social relations.

A survey of the developing political systems of the Middle East and their positions in world affairs. Considered are the nature of political leadership, the challenge of generating political legitimacy, the emergence of militant Islam, and the legacy of Western and Soviet imperialisms. The course will examine the states of Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Israel as well as the Palestinians within a political development framework. (Comparative Field)

This course will examine the various debates circulating in and around the Arab world related to the culture and politics of Arab societies. We will explore questions of representation in the region, whether that is Arab representations of themselves, Arab representations by the other, or minority struggles for representation. We will look at the relationship between individual, society and the state, and think critically about each of these concepts as they reproduce themselves and social relations.